Holder for invoice books



March 25, 1952 F. C. HODKIN HOLDER FOR INvoICEBooKs Filed Feb. 14, 1950 Fares f 6i H0 dlr/'n INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 25, 1952 UN l T EID S TAT ES PAT-ENT OFF! CE HOLDER Fon INvoIcE BOOK-s Foreste. Hoakin, panas, Tex.

ApplicationFebruary 14, 1950, SerialNa '144,105

Claims. `-1 VThis invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders for invoice books.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved holder for an invoice or similar book of such construction that outdoor use of the book is facilitated.

Another object of the invention -is to provide an improved invoice book holder having `novel means for securing the book and its sheets in position so as to permit handling-of 4the book vwithout soiling and without premature displacement of its sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an .improved holder, of the character described, having a frame for receiving -an invoice book and means for confining the back of the book whereby its sheets are exposed for use, together with means for frictionally confining the book and its sheets to prevent blowing of said sheets and tearing of the same.

Still another object of the invention is to Drovide an improved holder, of the character described, having a recess for receiving an invoice book and a separate recess Vfor advertising material.

A construction designed to carry out .the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the Ainvention. is shown, and wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of an invoice book holder constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. '2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of the holder.

In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates the substantially rectangular frame or housing of a holder for an invoice or similar book II of the type used in gasoline stations. The book I I is of the tablet type and includes a plurality of sheets I2 having one of their ends fastened to a back or cover I3 by staples I4, which sheets may be torn from said book after use. Although the exact construction of the housing I0 is subject to variation, the same preferably includes a pair of comsectional --v-iew,

sectional view,

receiving an advertising 0r display card 20. Marginal flanges or llips 2l depend from the cover at opposed sides of the opening I9 and may bear against the base. As shown by the numeral 2.2, the portion of the base'below the recess lis Vpreferably raised or upset to support the card 210 with its ends confined beneath the edge portions of the cover at the ends of said recess (Figs. 2 and v5).

For receiving the book I I, -an opening 23 is formed in the cover and is substantially complementary to said book. The opening 23 is preferably ofV slightly greater width and length than the book so as to provide a recess for said book and is surrounded by end flanges l24 and longitudinal anges 25 which depend from the cover. As shown in Figs. 2 -3 and 4, the end flanges 24 bear against the Abase and the longitudinal flanges 25 terminate above said base so as to be spaced therefrom. A retaining member or plate 26 rests upon the base beneath the opening and is preferably of less length and greater width than Vsaid opening whereby the longitudinal margins of -the plate -underlie the longitudinal fianges 25 as shown kby ythe numeral 2'! to slidably yconfine the plate `(Figs. 2 and 5). The main body of the plate 25 is upset 0r raised between its longitudinal margins 21 and the confining flanges 25 to provide -a raised portion 28 dis-posed within the recess and spaced from the base I6. The

raised .or upsetportion 28 is of sufficient wid-th to receive .the `ibacls: `I3 `of the book ztherebeneath so as to secure or fasten said book in the recess. It is pointed out that the book may be frictionally engaged with the plate by forcing the stapled end of said book toward said plate so as to wedge the end of the latter substantially against the staples I4. Thus, accidental dislodging or displacement of the book is prevented.

For holding the sheets I2 in position and preventing blowing or accidental tearing of the same,

a clamping element or bar 29 extends transversely across one end of the recess and may overlie the free or outer ends of said sheets. The bar 29 is substantially U-shaped and has lateral extensions or legs 30 at its ends extending through openings or slots 3| formed in the lower portions of the longitudinal flanges 25. A suitable coil 32 is formed in each leg 30 and the free end 33 thereof extends at right angles to said leg so as to bear against the base I6 and provide a spring for urging the bar downwardly. Due to this mounting of the clamping bar, it is manifest that limited movement of the same is permitted and the resiliency thereof enhanced. The clamping bar frictionally engages the uppermost sheet of the book so as to conne and prevent accidental displacement of said sheet and the underlying sheets. Since the clamping bar is resilient, the same may be readily swung upwardly when it is desired to place the book therebeneath or to remove sheets from said book. It is noted that the book may be inserted in either end of the recess due to the slidable mounting of the plate 26.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be readily apparent that a compact holder of simplified construction for an invoice book has been provided. The holder prevents damaging or soiling of the book and permits outdoor use, such as in gasoline stations. The book is firmly held in position by the retaining plate or member 26 and the clamping bar 29 assists in holding the said book in position as well as its sheets. The slidable confinement of the retaining member facilitates insertion of the invoice book and makes it possible to snap the stapled end of said book into wedging engagement with and against the end flange 24 of the recess. Due to the provision of the recess formed by the opening I9, advertising or display cards may be associated with the invoice book and unobtrusively brought to the attention of the customer when the invoice is presented for signature. Obviously, the card may be changed from time to time since it may be readily disengaged. The coacting marginal flanges I7 and I8 reinforce the housing, as do the flanges which surround the recesses.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as wellas in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder for an invoice book having a back including, a housing having a pair of substantially flat frame members, coacting marginal flanges on the frame members for connecting said members together, one of said frame members having an opening for receiving the invoice book in overlying relation to the other frame member, and a retaining member confined in the opening in spaced relation to said underlying frame member for receiving a major portion of the back of the book therebeneath to secure said book in said opening.

2. A holder as set forth in claim 1 including. means depending from the margin of the opening for confining the retaining member therein.

3. A holder for an invoice book having a back including, a housing having a pair of substantially iiat frame members, coacting marginal anges on the frame members for connecting said members together, one of said frame members having an opening for receiving the invoice book in overlying relation to the other frame member, a retaining member slidably conned in the opening in spaced relation to said underlying frame member for receiving the back of the book therebeneath to secure said book in said opening, the member being of less length than said opening to permit insertion of the book from either end.

4. A holder for an invoice book having a back including, a housing having a pair of substantially flat frame members, coacting marginal flanges on the frame members for connecting said members together, one of said frame members having one or more openings therein, one of the openings receiving an invoice book in overlying relation to the other frame member, and means in one of the openings for overlying a major portion of the back of the book to conne said book in said opening.

5. A holder including, a substantially flat base. a complementary cover secured to the base in overlying spaced relation, the cover having an opening overlying said base for receiving an invoice book having the usual back and sheets, a plate supported by said base and having an upset portion in the opening for receiving the back of the book therebeneath, the upset portion of the plate being of less length than said opening to permit insertion of the book from either end, and a marginal flange depending from said cover in surrounding relation to said opening for confining the plate.

FOREST C. HODKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

